BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Development Credit Corp. (BDCC) was recently awarded $48,000 for the continued implementation of their Cooperative Internship Program from the Department of Labor.
BDCC developed the internship program in consultation with the Six College Collaborative; a consortium of Higher Education Institutions in Windham County including Community College of Vermont, Vermont Technical College, Landmark College, SIT Graduate Institute, Marlboro College, and Union Institute and University.
“We are excited to see the accelerating engagement and success of this program,” said BDCC Executive Director Adam Grinold in a news release. “The internship program is a critical part of a larger program BDCC has been developing to expand the size and quality of the workforce in our region.”
The Cooperative Internship Program is available to all collegiate students, regardless of their affiliation with the aforementioned Six Colleges, and works to place students in Windham County businesses.
The program has placed over 50 students since its inception, and has led to full-time employment for 20 percent of participants that have completed their internships. Internship Coordinator Alex Beck cites the fact that all internships are paid positions as central to the program's success.
“Not only do we see higher performance, acceptance of responsibility, and dedication from paid interns, but it also preempts the often difficult decision students face between pursuing career and education goals or paying the bills. Employers essentially get a 'trial run' with interns, and many learn that these are the young people worth investing in.”
For students, the only eligibility requirement is to have attended a college-level course in the last 18 months. For employers, the only eligibility requirement is that the opportunity be paid and located within Windham County.